Seeing that Senba hadn't lost his fighting spirit because of his wife and child, Isamu nodded in approval. Although he still wasn't pleased that Senba had chosen to serve Konoha, at least his son still possessed some admirable qualities.
"Universal Pull!"
Activating his Rinnegan, Isamu raised his right hand, and an overwhelming gravitational force instantly surged toward Senba.
Originally, Universal Pull was merely one of the Rinnegan's basic abilities. But in Isamu's hands, even the most ordinary technique became a deadly weapon. Unlike Nagato, who had only partially mastered the Rinnegan, Isamu could turn any ability into a lethal attack.
"What incredible suction… Argh!"
Before Senba could react, he was violently dragged forward.
"You think this pathetic level of strength is enough to earn my approval?"
"Don't make me laugh."
"Don't assume I won't discipline you."
"Show me your real power!"
With obvious disdain, Isamu caught Senba by the throat and lifted him effortlessly into the air.
Hmm…
Those aren't ordinary Mangekyō Sharingan anymore.
They've evolved…
Looking into his father's eyes, Senba also noticed something was different.
"I'll prove that my strength goes far beyond this!"
"Wood Release: Briar Strangulation!"
Countless thorn-covered trees burst from the earth, surrounding Isamu from every direction before lunging toward him.
"Hmph."
"A child's trick."
"Shinra Tensei!"
Snorting coldly, Isamu released Senba and spread both hands.
A terrifying repulsive force exploded outward.
Boom!!
Both Senba and the massive forest were blasted away instantly.
The devastating shockwave uprooted trees, shattered boulders, and flattened everything within nearly a hundred meters.
Even Mikoto and Itachi, who had been watching from afar, were caught in the blast.
Seeing his daughter-in-law and grandson in danger, Isamu casually created a Truth-Seeking Orb, which expanded into a protective barrier around them before gently lifting them high into the air.
Watching from the ground was simply too dangerous.
Only Senba—his own son—received no such protection.
He was hurled more than twenty meters before barely managing to stabilize himself.
When the dust settled…
The surrounding forest had disappeared.
A clearing nearly a hundred meters wide now occupied the battlefield.
Such an enormous disturbance naturally attracted Konoha's attention.
Inside the village, Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, immediately abandoned his paperwork and rushed toward the back mountain with several elite shinobi.
At the same time, Danzō's Root also began secretly moving toward the source of the explosion.
"So this strange attraction and repulsion…"
"It's the Dōjutsu of your eyes?"
Senba asked while regaining his footing.
"You're giving these eyes too much credit."
Isamu shook his head.
"I don't need ocular powers to deal with you."
"This is merely an application of Yin–Yang Release."
"As for activating these eyes…"
"I only did it out of respect."
"If you weren't my son…"
"…you wouldn't even be worthy of making me open them."
Senba narrowed his eyes.
"I see."
"That repulsive force is indeed impressive."
"But I wonder…"
"…can it stop this?"
He slowly raised one hand.
A piercing, high-pitched whine gradually filled the air.
Watching the enormous Rasenshuriken form above Senba's palm, Isamu immediately recognized it.
"So…"
"A Rasenshuriken."
"The offensive power of that technique is indeed impressive."
"But…"
"Do you really think something like this can threaten me?"
Senba's expression remained determined.
"You'll find out soon enough."
"Take this!"
The gigantic Rasenshuriken—several dozen meters across—was hurled straight toward Isamu.
"Heh."
"So naïve."
Just before it struck, Isamu calmly raised one hand.
The Rinnegan's absorption ability activated instantly.
The colossal Rasenshuriken vanished without a trace.
It had been completely absorbed.
"Impossible!"
Senba's eyes widened.
He had imagined countless ways his attack might be countered.
Being absorbed had never crossed his mind.
Above the battlefield, the Truth-Seeking Orb had transformed into a floating platform supporting Mikoto and Itachi.
Even they were stunned by what they had just witnessed.
"You used a technique I created against me."
"I honestly don't know what you were thinking."
"I'll say it one last time."
"Show me your true strength."
"Otherwise…"
"Don't blame your father for bullying you."
Given the enormous disturbance, Isamu knew Konoha's shinobi would soon arrive.
He no longer intended to waste time.
"If that's the case…"
"Wood Release: Deep Forest—"
"You stubborn brat!"
"I told you to use your real strength!"
"Didn't you hear me?"
Seeing that Senba still refused to use his Complete Body Susanoo, Isamu finally lost his patience.
In a blur, he appeared directly in front of Senba.
A relentless barrage of fists and kicks followed.
Senba's Wood Release was interrupted immediately.
While enduring the assault, his right eye narrowed.
His Mangekyō activated.
For the briefest instant…
Isamu's movements stopped.
"Oh?"
"Tsukuyomi?"
"The so-called strongest genjutsu…"
"…isn't worthy of that title."
The world around him instantly turned blood-red.
He found himself nailed to a cross within the familiar Tsukuyomi realm.
"Sorry, Father."
"But you'll have to experience my genjutsu first."
Several copies of Senba appeared, each holding a long sword as they approached with sinister smiles.
"That might work against other people."
"But against me…"
"You're dreaming."
"Break."
Isamu's pupils contracted.
An overwhelming surge of ocular power erupted.
Crack!
The entire Tsukuyomi world shattered like fragile glass.
"Urgh!"
Outside the illusion, Senba staggered backward, clutching his right eye as intense pain shot through it.
"Heh."
"You didn't expect me to destroy Tsukuyomi so quickly, did you?"
Isamu smiled faintly while watching his son cover his injured eye.
Even he had been somewhat surprised.
Senba had inherited Tsukuyomi, the very same Mangekyō ability Isamu himself had once possessed.
It was said that every pair of Mangekyō Sharingan awakened unique powers.
The two of them sharing the same technique was quite unexpected.
"How…"
"How do you even know the name Tsukuyomi?"
Senba asked in disbelief.
Not only had his father effortlessly broken the illusion…
He had even identified it immediately.
"Heh."
"Why do I know?"
"Because…"
"You still treat me like an ordinary shinobi."
"You've never fought me seriously."
"That carelessness…"
"…is fatal."
"Today…"
"I'll teach you exactly what happens when you underestimate your opponent."
As his smile faded, terrifying chakra erupted from Isamu's body.
The crescent moon and sun markings—symbols of the Ultimate Yin and Ultimate Yang powers—glowed faintly on his hands.
Black-and-white energy swirled endlessly around him.
Senba stared in complete shock.
The chakra radiating from his father was beyond anything he had ever imagined.
It didn't feel human.
In truth, Senba had never intentionally underestimated Isamu.
Rather…
Isamu was simply too powerful.
Techniques that other shinobi regarded as ultimate trump cards—Wood Release, the Rasenshuriken, and countless others—were merely tools for creating openings in Isamu's eyes.
That was the true difference between them.
Although Senba had already reached the Super Kage level…
Compared to Isamu…
They existed on entirely different planes.